Operating Behind Enemy Lines

LaGrange is a small rural community in southwest Tennessee from which one of the most daring Civil War raids began. Colonel Benjamin Grierson a former music teacher who hated horses led his troops 600 miles through the heart of Mississippi all the way down to Union controlled Baton Rouge, Louisiana. His mission was to distract the Confederate army away from the Battle of Vicksburg and do as much damage as possible. With amazing courage, cunning, and military skill the 1700 Union soldiers led by Grierson accomplished their objectives and wrote themselves into military history.

As Christians we also operate behind enemy lines. This world we live in is enemy territory (1 John 5:19). We must be alert to potential dangers (1 Peter 5:8). This place is not our home. We are merely passing through. Eventually, this world will be destroyed (2 Peter 3:10). We are helping to bring in a new kingdom where peace and righteousness prevail. 

Dealing with Religious Liars

Today I need to go visit a church, but I'm sort of nervous. There is a person associated with this congregation who has said some hateful and dishonest things about me.

The Lord graciously showed me this morning how Jesus dealt with dishonest people. Following Jesus's example, I must do the following:

1. I must be loving. This is how Jesus responded to the rich young ruler, who may have been a ruler of a synagogue or member of the Sanhedrin. This man falsely claimed to have kept all the commandments. Despite his bogus claim, Jesus looked on him with love (Mark 10:20-21).
2. I will try to find some agreement. This is how Jesus dealt with two of His disciples who thought they could keep up with Jesus. He knew the sons of Zebedee could never endure the cross, but they would be martyred. James would be beheaded and John would be exiled to the Island of Patmos. Following our Lord's example I will seek agreement not argument (Mark 10:38-40).
3. I have to guard my integrity. When the chief priests, scribes, and elders claimed ignorance about John's baptism, Jesus did not respond in kind. It would have been easy for Jesus to say, "Well I don't either." We must not stoop to their level. In spite of how others act, I want to do my best to behave with character and honor (Mark 11:33).
4. I will never speak of their false accusations. This is what Jesus did when false witnesses accused Him before the high priest and the Sanhedrin. Mark 14:61 says, "[Jesus] kept silent and said nothing."

We are not surprised to see falsehoods in business or politics, but it is sad to see it in the church. Jesus dealt with dishonest religious people, we will too. But by God's grace, let us respond with love, harmony, and integrity. 

A Difficult Assignment

It is rising in my spirit like a quiet unwelcomed intruder, but I hear it. I know what I have to do. God is calling me to fast. What is fasting? Fasting is the voluntary abstinence from food for spiritual purposes. I have fasted before and it's not fun. The results are wonderful but the process is painful. Like you, I like to eat. I like to be full. I like to nourish my body. But sometimes you have to do what is unpleasant. I think I need to fast. Here's what Jesus said.

1. Jesus said His followers will fast. In Mark 2:20 he explained that after He left planet earth His followers would fast. 
2. Jesus said His followers must fast. When the disciples were unable to cast the demon out of the boy. They asked Jesus, "Why?" He explained that extra tough situations require prayer and fasting (Mark 9:29). 

Would you pray for me that I'd be obedient to this difficult assignment?

Maybe you are in a dire situation and perhaps you too should consider this spiritual discipline. 

Dying to Live

Three times in the book of Galatians the apostle Paul spoke of the believer's death. 

1. We must die to religious rules (Gal. 2:19). Instead of trusting the law to make us right with God, we must trust Jesus for justification.

2. We must die to personal pleasures (Gal. 5:24). Instead of obeying the desires of the flesh, we must keep in step with the leadership of the Holy Spirit.

3. We must die to frivilous fashions (Gal. 6:14). Instead of loving the corrupt customs of world (1 John 2:15-17), we must love the Lord Jesus. 

When we die to the law, the flesh, and the world we come alive to God. And this is what the Lord Jesus promised when He said, "he who loses his life for My sake will find it" (Matt. 10:39). 

Preparing for Tomorrow

Got any exciting dreams for the future? Learn a lesson from Joshua 3.

The Hebrews dreamed of a better future for their families. They longed for a land that flowed with milk and honey. But before they could experience God's blessings they had to do something.

Joshua told them, "Sanctify yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among you (Josh. 3:5)." Notice the sequence.

Just as surely as today comes before tomorrow, sanctification comes before miracles.

Today is the foundation for tomorrow. If you want God's blessings tomorrow, live holy today.

The Right Way to Listen to a Sermon

There is, in fact, a right and wrong way to listen to a sermon. James 1:21-25 describes two groups of people: the blessed and the deceived.

A deceived church-goer is the one who hears the scripture, but never acts on it. They are a hearer, but not a doer of the word. Consequently, they receive no blessing. 

The blessed church-goer is the one takes God's word seriously, not casually. Here are seven imperatives for being blessed by your pastor's sermon.

1. You must be clean. "Lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness."

2. You need to be teachable. When it comes to God's word, "receive [it] with meekness." The idea of meekness in the first-century was used to describe powerful horses brought under the control of their master. In other words, don't argue with God's word, yield to it.

3. You should receive God's word deeply into your heart. James describes it as "the implanted word." Think of seeds placed in the earth, not sprinkled on top of the ground. Thus, we are to receive God's word deep into our heart, our mind, our memory, our conscience, into the very essence of our soul.

4. You must stop and investigate God's word. James says he who is blessed by God's word "looks into [it]." This is the same Greek word used in Luke 24:12 to describe Peter coming to the empty tomb, "stooping and looking in." In the same way friend, if you want to truly be blessed by God's word, slow down, quit speed-reading the Bible. Take a deep inquistive look at what God says in his word. 

5. You need to live in God's word. James says the blessed one "continues in it." Stay in the word, go back to it often. Read it daily. Persevere in it.

6. You must remember God's teachings. Don't be a "forgetful hearer." Take some notes, put something in your journal. Memorize key verses. Meditate on what God says.

7. You need to obey God's word. When it says God's word is able to save your soul think sanctification, not just justification. God's word lived out will help you overcome sin on a daily basis. You will walk in victory. James says, "[the obedient] one will be blessed in what he does."

Take it seriously when your pastor shares God's word. Use the above imperatives from James and be a blessed hearer.

After Faith Has Come

Four results of faith in Christ, based on Galatians 3:24-27:

1. We are free from the law (Gal. 3:24-25). The function of the law is to show us our sin and need for a Savior. Once a person comes to Christ through faith, the law is no longer necessary.
2. We are adopted into God's family (Gal. 3:26). Christians are sons, not slaves, and thus have a sense of belonging and access to all of God's incredible riches (Gal. 4:6-7).
3. We identify wtih Christ (Gal. 3:27). The believer is placed into Christ and enjoys the benefits of Christ's accomplishments and privileges.
4. We are made righteousness (Gal. 3:24). The repentant sinner who places their faith in Christ is justified. This means being declared legally righteous in the eyes of God.

Trials, Temptations, Tests, and Troubles

"Man's days are few and full of trouble." But what is going on when we experience life's trials? Here is a little distinction that may help.

• Tests are when God allows us to go through a trial for the purpose of bringing the best out in us. Abram was tested when God asked him to sacrifice his son Isaac. Abram passed the test. He came out stronger and better.
• Temptations occur when we face a trial and Satan wants to bring the worst out in us. Eve was tempted when the serpent led her to disobey God. Eve yielded to temptation and suffered for it.

Sometimes a test and a temptation occur simultaneously. Study the examples of Job and Jesus. So too, we must be alert when trouble comes. We can either cooperate with God and make it into a growing experience (James 1:3); or, we can yield to Satan's temptations which will of course make a bad situation worse when we suffer the consequences of sin. Thankfully, in every situation God gives us freedom to chose: Will we trust God, or not?

A Pure Heart

Being double-minded is not good because such a person is mixed up inside. Sometimes they are spiritual, othertimes they are carnal. Sometimes they trust, othertimes they doubt. Instead of being double-minded the committed Christian should desire a pure heart. A person with a pure heart is totally in love with God. And because they are full of love for the Lord, there is no room within them for fear, doubt, or disobedience. Jesus promised, "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God (Matthew 5:8)."  

Watch out for the symptoms of double-mindedness. Seek to have a pure heart fully devoted to the Lord.  

The Cure for Double-Mindedness

In his one and only epistle, the Apostle James discusses double-mindedness. In Chapter One he shares the symptoms and in Chapter Four he reveals the cure. How does one overcome double-mindedness? See James 4:7.

1. "Submit to God." Literally this means to stand under. Like a soldier we are to obey our commanding officer Jesus Christ. God's way is the best way. 
2. "Resist the devil." Literally this means to stand against. We must oppose and withstand the advances of the wicked one.

Overcoming double-mindedness involves growing faith and eliminating doubt. Thus, it is important to know who will help us and who will hurt us. God inspires faith and Satan creates doubt. So, stand under God and stand against the devil.